Chapter 9

"If you want a job doing right, do it your bloody self," Neville muttered, sorting through his research files and realising that someone had been messing with his meticulous system.

Of course, it was only meticulous to him. By other people's standards the reams of research notes were a total mess and made sense only to him. Still, it was his research and he didn't need it being messed with. He was progressing well, filing system notwithstanding, and was getting ready to publish his preliminary findings.

He heard a shout of laughter and moved over to the window. He was in the research lab in the main house, which afforded a good view of the sprawling gardens below. He looked out and saw Draco and Teddy firing water pistols at one another Teddy looking very much as though he had the advantage.

Neville grinned as he watched them. Draco's bond with Teddy was growing stronger and stronger, and Neville was still slightly amazed at how good Draco was with him. He had volunteered to help Harry and George with childcare and now picked Teddy up from school a couple of days a week and looked after him. Neville wasn't sure who enjoyed themselves more.

He watched as Teddy cornered Draco and the man fell to his knees dramatically and held his hands up in surrender. Teddy took no mercy on him and instead soaked him from head to foot, Draco falling backwards with a cry of anguish. Neville laughed and decided to go down and rescue him.

"I thought you were going to go easy on him," he said, creeping up on Teddy and grabbing him around the waist, lifting him off the floor.

Teddy shrieked with laughter and Draco used the opportunity to soak them both with water. "You rotten cheat," Neville laughed. "I was coming down to rescue you!"

"I can save myself, Mr Longbottom," Draco said with a wicked grin, aiming his pistol at them both again.

Neville held Teddy in front of himself as a shield and said, "Take him! He's the real villain."

"Traitor," Teddy giggled.

"Alright gentlemen, I propose a truce," Draco said, throwing his pistol aside.

"Get him, Teddy!" Neville instructed, and Teddy emptied the rest of his pistol directly into Draco's face amidst cries of protest. Neville laughed until his sides hurt and Teddy and Draco fell to playfighting on the ground. Eventually he had to put a stop to proceedings and pulled them off one another.

"Look at the state of you," he said to them both. "Let's clean you up."

"No, no. Let me," Draco said, taking out his wand and performing a few cleaning and drying spells, looking pleased with himself as he did so.

"That wand working out alright for you?" Neville asked with a smile.

"Yeah," Draco said with an answering smile, looking down at the wand. "It responds really well to me. It's been so long since I've been able to use magic…it's nice to have it back again."

"I know my father would be happy to think it's being put to good use."

"You're a generous man, Neville, and I'm sure your father was too."

They strolled back to the cottage, Teddy between them, grilling Neville about his research. The boy had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge for all things pertaining to nature and Neville enjoyed being part of his education. He had a sharp mind and soaked information up like a sponge; Harry and George had learnt pretty quickly that they had to be careful what they said around him.

The two men were joining Neville and Draco for dinner after Harry's shift ended at the hospital so Draco and Teddy amused themselves with Exploding Snap while Neville cooked. The weight seemed to lift from Draco's shoulders when he was with Teddy and Teddy, in turn, was utterly smitten with his older cousin.

He followed Draco everywhere and had no respect for his personal space at all. He lolloped all over the man at any given opportunity and cuddled up to him whenever he could. Draco didn't seem remotely put out by these demonstrative shows, indeed he rather seemed to revel in them. He was so gentle with Teddy and was more at his ease with the boy than with anyone.

Harry and George arrived, Harry still in his dark green healer's robes, the colour indicating his seniority in the profession. His bump was tiny and compact, even at nearly six months along, but George's hand seemed to constantly find its way to rest on it. He was over the moon to be a father and seemed more in love with Harry than he'd ever been. Neville tried to be sickened by them both but instead just found himself fond.

They settled in the seldom-used dining room, as they wouldn't all fit around the kitchen table, and Teddy plonked himself firmly next to Draco. He even conceded to eating broccoli, which he hated with a passion, because Draco said it was his favourite vegetable. Harry asked Draco if he'd consider going to live with them instead.

"When are you going on paternity leave?" Neville asked Harry as George helped himself to a second helping of dinner. Where he put it all Neville never knew; the man was as slim as he had been as a teenager.

"Well, I'm not due until the beginning of August so probably mid-July."

"And you're still convinced it's a girl?" Draco asked with a smile.

"These two are," Harry said, nodding at George and Teddy. "I haven't the energy to argue with them."

"What about names?" Neville asked, smiling as he watched Teddy shift his chair closer to Draco's.

"I like Imogen or Elodie," Harry said.

"And I like Niamh," George interjected.

"No boy names then?" Neville asked with a laugh.

"Not for our daughter, no," George said with a grin.

"How's the job in the pub going?" Harry asked Draco and the man gave him a pleased smile.

"Really well," he answered. "Sid's great and the locals are all very friendly. It's a nice crowd in there. Between that and my shifts in the village shop I actually have a little money in my pocket now. It's nice."

Neville couldn't help but reach for the man's hand and was pleased when Draco didn't pull away. He knew both Harry and George were looking at them with raised eyebrows but Draco just laced their fingers together with a smile. Teddy grinned and said smugly, "Knew it," before Harry cleared his throat and enquired if Draco had decided which academic course he would be taking.

Still keeping their hands entwined, Draco looked up and said, "I think I've decided on Psychology."

He outlined his plan to achieve his undergraduate degree followed by a post-graduate course to gain his PhD to become a clinical psychologist. Neville couldn't help but feel pride as he listened to Draco speak and he was so happy to think that Draco was now on a path that would bring him happiness and security. He tightened his hold on Draco's fingers and the man smiled so brightly at him it made his stomach flutter.

"Annie's letting me use her computer for all the online stuff and Luna said she'll help me with registration and all the things I'll need to pass as a muggle. All being well I'll start in September."

"That's amazing, Draco," Harry said with a sincere smile. "It's great you've found something you're so passionate about."

They migrated to the sitting room, Draco serving them coffee while Harry sipped on herbal tea and Teddy ate an ungodly amount of ice cream. Harry and Draco fell to quiet conversation, sitting close to one another on the sofa, while Neville and George set up a game of chess in the little alcove in the window.

Neville looked across at Harry and Draco as he played, intrigued by the closeness they seemed to be building. As he became older and more secure, Harry had become increasingly gentle in his nature, something that grew stronger over the years he spent being father to Teddy. That gentleness seemed to be exactly what Draco needed and he responded to it like someone who had had precious little kindness in his life.

"Kind of cute together, aren't they?" George said, following Neville's line of sight over his shoulder and watching the two men together.

"They are," Neville agreed with a laugh. "They seem genuinely fond of one another."

"I think they are," George said, turning around and contemplating the chessboard. "Harry…he feels a lot of guilt about the way things were between them at school. He thinks he should have done more to help…after the war."

"And he thinks he doesn't have a hero complex."

"I know right?" George said with a snort. "Still, guilt's always a powerful motivator where Harry's concerned but I think he genuinely cares for Draco. They're very similar in lots of ways."

George made a move that put Neville in check then looked up and said, "Are we going to talk about the fact that you guys are…whatever you are?"

Neville smiled at George's directness and said, "We're taking things slowly, seeing what develops. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have feelings for him though."

He waited for a judgemental look or sceptical comment but none was forthcoming. He should have known better; George very rarely passed judgement on people when it came to life choices and held a very 'live and let live' attitude where most things were concerned.

"Well," he said, surveying the chess pieces, "I've known you a long time and I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at him." Neville blinked in surprise and George looked up and said with a grin, "Oh and checkmate by the way."

Teddy began yawning, despite insisting that he wasn't tired, and Harry and George took him home around nine. He protested most vehemently but was appeased by the promise of Draco picking him up from school on Monday and taking him bowling.

"You and Harry seemed to be having a good chat," Neville said as they tidied up the living room.

Draco's smile was a self-deprecating one. He perched on the arm of the sofa and said, "You know…I always wanted to be his friend. I went about it the wrong way of course, the only way I'd ever been taught, but it didn't change the fact that I wanted to be part of that little team. Now we're older…now so much has happened…I'm grateful for his friendship."

"He's a good man. I've been very thankful to have him as a friend."

"He's um…he's convinces me to see a mind healer," Draco said, brushing his hands over his thighs.

"That's a really positive step," Neville said with an encouraging smile and Draco nodded.

"I have an appointment next week. I'm kind of terrified."

Neville placed the tray he was holding on the coffee table and moved to stand in front of Draco, positioning himself between the man's legs. He reached out and ran a hand gently through Draco's hair, letting his hand move down to cup his jaw.

"It's a frightening thing, no doubt about it, but I really believe it's a necessary step for you."

Draco reached up and ran his hands along Neville's arms, tilting his face upwards and looking at Neville with an expression that did very strange things to Neville's insides. He moved a hand into Draco's impossibly soft hair and leant down until their lips met in a light, almost teasing kiss.

He would never tire of kissing Draco, of that he was certain, and with each kiss he seemed to lose himself more and more. No other partner had ever elicited such a reaction from him with such a simple thing and he'd never felt closer to anyone with such a chaste action.

His hand twined in Draco's hair gently as their tongues met leisurely, the kiss to be enjoyed for its own sake rather than to act as a prelude to something more heated. Draco's hand had snaked over his hip to rest on his lower back, the heat of it sending little pulses of pleasure over his skin.

"I really wish we'd been doing this in 7th year rather than fighting for our lives," Neville said as they pulled apart, Draco winding his arms around Neville's waist and pulling him closer.

"It would have been a much better use of our time," Draco agreed with a smile. He leant into the touch as Neville's finger teased through his hair, saying, "Can I come and sleep with you again tonight?"

"As if you need to ask," Neville said, trying not to look too pleased with the request.

Draco had spent the night in his bed a few times since they had first taken the step to physically sleep together and Neville was surprised at just how easily he'd become accustomed to it. He had always dissuaded partners from staying in the past; he valued his space and had never particularly enjoyed sharing his bed. With Draco, as with all things, it was different.

Neither was all that comfortable sleeping tangled up together but they would spend a quiet and peaceful half an hour cuddling, sharing a kiss or two, before they parted to sleep. It was insanely blissful having Draco in his arms, holding the man gently to his bare chest as the man's long fingers traced patterns over his skin.

As much as Neville wanted to acquaint Draco with intimacy that wasn't connected to sex, it felt as though he was also teaching himself in the process. His relationships in the past had all been brief and hadn't lasted long enough for him to let his guard down and be vulnerable enough to admit that he craved intimacy.

He knew Draco felt that the lack of sex between them was an issue and, while Neville wasn't going to lie and say he didn't want to make love to the man, he appreciated that it gave them an opportunity to build closeness. They were building trust and learning each other's bodies in a way that was separate from sex and Neville found it more important than simply sleeping together.

They lay together later that night, the room bathed in soft candlelight, Draco pillowed against Neville's chest. Neville ran his fingers through the man's hair as Draco breath tickled his ribs pleasantly. "I think Teddy might run away from home to come and live with you," he said and Draco chuckled softly.

"I'm a little in love with him, I have to admit," he said, snuggling into Neville's chest. "He's a great kid."

"And he's smitten with you. He's become your shadow over the last couple of months."

"It's the price one has to pay for being devastatingly cool," Draco said with a dramatic sigh and Neville grinned.

Draco was so enamoured by his young cousin that he had even attended the boy's birthday party a few weeks prior. Crowds still posed a problem for him, especially those made up of his former classmates, but he was willing to put that aside for Teddy's sake. Of course, he realised that people weren't against him, that they held no hostility towards him, but his past was a source of great shame and embarrassment for him and it wasn't easy to put something like that behind you.

"It's nice to…to still have family," Draco said quietly. "I guess I feel a connection to him."

"I can understand that," Neville said, continuing to stroke Draco's hair. "I felt adrift for a while after Gran died. The fact that my mum's still with us, even…the way she is, it was a comfort."

"Do you see her often?"

"Not as often as I should," Neville said with a sigh. "It's…difficult and awkward. I've run out of things to say…of ways to try and communicate. I know it makes me a bad son."

"No it doesn't," Draco argued gently. He tilted his head to look up at Neville and said, "You're dealing with it as best you can, you have nothing to reproach yourself for."

Neville smiled and pressed a kiss to Draco's forehead. "When I next visit, will you come with me?" he asked tentatively.

Draco paused then said softly, "I'd be honoured."

May trundled along peacefully and Neville could hardly believe that it had been nearly five months since Draco had come to live with him. He was healing, both mentally and physically, and didn't resemble much of the emaciated waif that Neville had found in Knockturn back in January.

He had demons, more than most, and it would take him a lifetime to overcome them but Neville truly believed he wanted to. He attended twice-weekly session with his mind healer and, so far, he hadn't spoken to Neville about those sessions. Neville understood and didn't press the issue; Draco would talk to him if and when he was ready, the important thing was that he was seeking help.

He worked shifts in the pub and the village shop and Neville knew it made Draco proud to earn money in a legitimate way and gain some independence in the process. Dealing with people on a daily basis was also helping to grow his confidence and Neville could see that it was letting him blossom, enabling to him understand that there were better things for him on the horizon.

Neville was sitting up in bed, going through the final draft of the paper he was about to publish, wondering if anyone would get his obscure humorous references. He thought he was funny but no one else seemed to. He heard the front door go downstairs and glanced at the clock, which showed it was nearly midnight. The pub must have been busy.

There was a momentary pause then he heard Draco's footsteps on the stairs before they padded softly across the landing. Neville looked up as Draco appeared in the doorway, leaning on the doorframe with a lazy smile. He looked good in the smart black trousers and white shirt he was required to wear behind the bar and Neville allowed himself to sweep his eyes up and down the man's body.

"Anyone ever tell you you're kind of sexy as hell?" he asked, leaning back against the pillows.

Draco blushed slightly but said, "Anyone ever tell you you're bloody cute with those reading glasses on?"

Neville grinned. "They do make me look like a sexy academic, don't they?"

Draco nodded with an indulgent smile and moved into the bedroom, perching on the side of the bed and leaning in to give Neville a kiss hello. "Good shift?" Neville asked.

"Busy," Draco replied, letting his fingers dance lightly over Neville's jaw, his eyes soft, his smile languid. "Sid did give me a £50 bonus for doing a good job though so I can't complain."

"Nice work," Neville said, enjoying the man's ministrations.

"I…um…I've been thinking," Draco said, watching the path his own fingers were taking.

"Sounds interesting," Neville said, wondering where this was going.

"I…I think you were right about building intimacy. Kissing, sharing your bed, it's…I don't know…making me feel so close to you and I want to…build on that."

"Ok," Neville said carefully as Draco's fingers moved to tease along his exposed collarbone. "How do you want to do that?"

Draco paused, still watching his fingers trace over Neville's skin, then said, "I don't think I'm ready for sex, not yet anyway, but I want to be closer to you…physically. Could we…I don't know…touch? I mean probably above the waist…or else that just seems like I'm teasing…but I mean…" Draco frowned as his sentence descended into bluster, uncertain what exactly he was saying.

Neville smiled and took hold of the man's hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it gently. "I think I understand," he said softly. "Do you trust me?"

"Without question," Draco said without hesitation.

"Then will you let me take the lead?"

Draco nodded, his expression so trusting that it nearly undid Neville. He slid his hand around the man's neck and leant forward to meet him in a gentle kiss, his lips brushing Draco's softly. He was determined to shower the man with all the gentleness and affection he'd been so starved of, to show him that anything pertaining to sex didn't need to be shameful or aggressive.

He moved his lips to lay gentle kisses along Draco's jaw then down his throat as his hands moved to carefully undo the buttons of Draco's shirt. "Is this ok?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Draco whispered in response, arching into Neville's touch.

"Just let me know if it's too much, if you need to stop," Neville said, needing to acquaint Draco with boundaries, to give the man some much-needed autonomy over his own body. "I promise we're not doing anything sexual, just getting a little more intimate."

He finished undoing the buttons and slid the shirt from Draco's body. "Lie back against the pillows," he instructed, and Draco did so, his expression so exquisitely beautiful that Neville felt his breath catch.

Neville lay beside Draco and slowly let his hand settle in the centre of Draco's chest, letting the man acclimatise himself to the feel of skin on skin. Gently, reverently, Neville allowed his fingers to roam over Draco's pale skin. He stroked over the man's ribs and stomach; he was still thin but not painfully so, and there were the beginnings of toned muscles starting to form.

Much of his torso was scarred, angry red lines criss-crossing the skin or a standout mark from something that had undoubtedly once been a hex. He wondered how much had been self-inflicted and what had been endured at other people's hands. It hurt to think of the pain Draco had suffered, the inhuman ways in which he'd been treated, and Neville wanted nothing more than to banish all those dark memories, to soothe them away with love and affection.

His touch was light, searching. Draco arched into each delicate press of fingers, increasing the contact each time, Neville smiling as the man emitted soft little moans while his back bowed. He trailed his hands down Draco's arms, let his fingers twine with Draco's long, thin ones and watched as pale hair stood on end and goosebumps followed.

"Ok?" he whispered into Draco's ear as he pressed gentle kisses to the man's throat.

"God yes," Draco whispered emphatically.

"Turn over," Neville said, and Draco complied without question, pillowing his head on his arms.

Neville performed the same gentle exploration on the man's back as he had done on his front, letting his fingers dance over skin that was scarred but no less lovely for it. He pressed gentle kisses to Draco's spine as his hands roved just above the line of Draco's trousers. Draco's breath came in stuttered sighs and Neville began to lightly massage the muscles beneath his hands.

It was lovely to be able to touch someone so intimately, to connect with another person so completely without needing to bring sex into the equation. Having Draco's trust, being able to practically feel it, was like possessing a rare and precious gift. He wanted to prove himself worthy of it, to prove to Draco that he had been right to place his trust in him.

He etched every inch of Draco's skin onto his mind, catalogued the places that were most sensitive, the places Draco pressed into Neville's hand, seeking as much contact as possible. "Was this what you had in mind, love?" he murmured softly as he teased the shell of Draco's ear.

This is so much better than anything I could have imagined," Draco replied breathlessly. "But I should…I should be reciprocating."

"Next time," Neville said with a smile. "This is all about you."

Draco turned around beneath Neville, their chests pressing together, his eyes shining brightly. "I'm not sure what I did to deserve you," he said in a whisper. He reached up and cupped Neville's cheek, stroking his thumb over his cheekbone. "But I don't want to let you go."

"I'm not going anywhere," Neville promised, and Draco leant up to meet him in a kiss that took his breath away. Indeed, he had no intention whatsoever of going anywhere, he'd be there as long as Draco let him.

AN: Apologies for not doing any review replies for the last chapter, I didn't get the job (which really pissed me off tbh) and my health took a bit of a dive so it's been a bit of a rotten week. Add to it the fact that the UK's gone back into lockdown again...well, things are a bit rubbish.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, please leave a review and let me know.